Location: Seattle, WA 
Owner: Seattle Parks & Recreation 

Tucked into a quiet neighborhood, Virgil Flaim Park in Lake City features a playground, picnic areas, paths and a multipurpose field. OCI landscape architects designed amenities for a 7,500 sf skatespot for all ages and abilities, a basketball court, viewing areas with seating, pathways, and plantings. The stormwater infiltration system replenishes groundwater and feeds the adjacent urban creek and greenbelt. The activation of the remotest corner of the park adds a broader range of use and promotes safety. OCI team members worked with the public in a series of meetings to understand the context, review alternatives, and refine the design. The careful insertion of new uses into an existing popular park required thoughtful consideration of adjacencies, park use during construction, and construction access staging. The park improvements have proved to be a popular addition to the neighborhood, attracting local residents, as well as serving as a skateboard destination.